FREE Coloring Pages, A Gift From Us to You

Bright colors, sweary rage, and animal dance parties. After a long #WFH day, with your TBR pile and binge-worthy tv shows a-dwindling, your cat (still) a-sleeping, and cabin fever a-boiling, it’s the perfect time to let it all go and… COLOR! Download these FREE pages and color, color, color that long day away… Thanks to […]

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CRAFTS (7/19/17)

CRAFTS (7/19/17)

CRAFTS . . . Rhymes with . . . WAIT FOR IT . . . CATS!!! #meow 350 + Knitting Tips, Techniques, and Trade Secrets: How to Be Better at What You Do by Betty Barnden Hundreds of tips for professional-looking knits, suitable for all skill levels! 350 + Crochet Tips, Techniques, and Trade Secrets […]

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Get Crafty!

Get Crafty!

Looking for new activities for your library’s craft-ernoon? Look no further than these new books from St. Martin’s Griffin: 200 FUN THINGS TO CROCHET: Decorative Flowers, Leaves, Bugs, Butterflies, and More! by Lesley Stanfield, Betty Barnden, Jessica Polka, Kristin Nicholas & Victoria Lyle This irresistible collection of cute little crochet projects for all levels of […]

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Stitch, Cook, Build…Repeat

Stitch, Cook, Build…Repeat

The holidays are coming! Prepare your patrons (and yourself) with these craft books full of projects to stitch, cook, and build: CROCHET SNOWFLAKES STEP-BY-STEP: A Delightful Flurry of 40 Patterns for Beginners by Caitlin Sainio No experience is necessary to crochet sensational snowflakes! Clear, easy-to-follow photo sequences linked to charts will teach readers how to […]

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Calling all Crafty Crafting Librarians!

Calling all Crafty Crafting Librarians!

Jump start your homemade holiday gifts with these 3 titles: 100 COLORFUL RIPPLE STITCHES TO CROCHET: 50 Original Stitches & 50 Fabulous Colorways for Blankets and Throws by Leonie Morgan In this wonderfully illustrated and easy-to-use guide with simple to advanced patterns, making and using ripple stitches in delightful and inspiring colors and textures has […]

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Get Crafty!

Get Crafty!

Calling all crafty librarians! We've got new books to inspire your latest arts & crafts projects:

GAME DAY: 50 Fun Spirit Fleece Projects to Sew by Cindy Cummins
This fun guide gives you advice on the tools and different kinds of fleece to work with, as well as tips for easy sewing and serging techniques in addition to the projects designed for Tailgating, Game Time, Men & Women, Kids & Baby, Man's Best Friend, and even some No-Sew projects.

FLORAL KNITS: 25 Contemporary Flower-Inspired Designs by Martin Storey
Inspired by lush garden flowers, the book includes 25 gorgeous knitted garments (sweaters, shrugs, scarves, etc.) and accessories (cushions, throws, etc.) from top Rowan Yarns designer Martin Storey.

LOOM KNITTING AFGHANS: 20 Simple & Snuggly No-Needle Designs for All Loom Knitters by Isela Phelps
Loom knitting maven Isela Phelps' latest book shows off clear, easy-to-follow instructions and new patterns for afghans, throws, and blankets for beginner knitters up to advanced levels.

THE UPHOLSTERER'S HANDBOOK: A Complete Reference with Step-by-Step Techniques by Alex Law
Whether you're re-covering some simple dining chairs or restoring a family heirloom, this book contains all the guidance and techniques—both traditional and modern—you'll need to complete your upholstery project in an easy-to-use format. 

Happy crafting! 

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2013 Cooking & Crafting Series + FREE Books for your Library!

2013 Cooking & Crafting Series + FREE Books for your Library!

cookbooks & craft books

November and December bring some of our favorite holidays. While we like to focus on giving you great news about our books, awards, conference information, and all things cuddly and small, we also think it's the perfect time to share our cooking and craft books with you. 

Periodically throughout November and December, we'll feature a recipe or a craft from one of our many titles, in the hope that you might find it useful to share with your patrons, or get ideas for yourself, whether you're entertaining, hosting, or gift-giving. 

One other delightful bonus: FREE BOOKS! Just in time for the December holidays, we'll be giving away two bundles of cookbooks and craft books featured in the posts to a pair of lucky winners!

To enter the giveaway, simply email Library@MacmillanUSA.com from your professional/library-issued e-mail address (subject: Cooking & Crafts) and your library’s mailing address. Submit your entry by Sunday, December 16th to be placed in the random drawing. (Make sure to check the rules & regulations after the recipe.)

UPDATE 12/16: Congratulations to our winners, Sarah Bourg of Hamilton North Public Library in Cicero, IN and Pam Aghababian of Ashland Public Library in Ashland, MA!

 

white bean & sausage casseroleOur first featured recipe is from KEEPERS: Two Home Cooks Share Their Tried-and-True Weeknight Recipes and the Secrets to Happiness in the Kitchen by Kathy Brennan and Caroline Campion. 

Anne was happy to fire up the oven in her kitchen on a cold Sunday to cook this Sausage and White Bean Gratin casserole made with sausage (duh), white beans (double duh), spinach, wine (mmm!), and a butter/breadcrumb topping (double mmm!). 

Click here to download a PDF of the Sausage and White Bean Gratin recipe.

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The Word of the Day: Crafts

The Word of the Day: Crafts

We're getting pretty serious about this whole "Word of the Day" theme. Let's see if I can keep it up for the rest of the week!

Monday's Word of the Day: Teens

Tuesday's Word of the Day: Chocolate

And today's Word of the Day: Crafts!

THE VERY EASY GUIDE TO KNITTING SCARVES
Step-by-Step Techniques, Easy-to-Follow Patterns, and 22 Projects to Get You Started
Marie Connolly

Sew you think you can knit, huh? Prove it with a cozy scarf. A scarf is where many knitters start and often return. Scarves never lose their appeal. For the beginner, this book offers basic stitches paired with beautiful yarns to create gorgeous scarves, from cozy winter warmers to delicate evening wraps. The more advanced can choose from cable patterns, lace stitches, Fair Isle patterns, and many other inspiring ideas.

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Help Patrons Sell Their Crafts on Etsy!

Help Patrons Sell Their Crafts on Etsy!

If you have patrons who are looking to sell their crafts over the internet, but can't quite get a handle on where to start, HOW TO SELL YOUR CRAFTS ONLINE by Derrick Sutton is the perfect book to steer them towards.

Library Journal says, "Online craft marketplaces such as Etsy and ArtFire have made it easy for crafters to sell their wares online. But how do you market them in the increasingly crowded handmade marketplace? Sutton, who operates a successful online craft business, provides a wealth of tips and tricks to help crafters get noticed and grow their business. The content is Etsy-centric, and Internet-savvy sellers will find some of the advice obvious, but crafters looking to start or grow an online business may appreciate Sutton’s guidance."

Pair it with THE SEWING MACHINE ACCESSORY BIBLE and they'll be fully prepared to open an online store with quality crafts in no time!

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Today’s Craft Project: Paper Cup Telephones!

Today’s Craft Project: Paper Cup Telephones!

Okay, Okay, enough with the nerdy stuff. I could use a project. Let's pick something fun and crafty to make out of a delightful book that we released back in June, HOMEMADE FUN by Rae Grant.

Rae Grant says, "Long ago, (yet still a recent memory for some), families celebrated the seasons and holidays, as well as the cycle of everyday life, in a homemade way... HOMEMADE FUN is a tribute to simple ideas for childhood fun."

Full disclosure: I'm horrible at this homemade business. I got a C in Home Ec and I forget to put the milk and butter in my mac n' cheese sometimes, but I go bonkers for crafts like the one above, Paper Cup Telephones! Click the link or the picture to enlarge the instructions. 

Ali's Tip from Experience: when you're all done, the string cannot be loose or touching anything, otherwise physics gets grumpy and your words won't make it to the other cup.

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